During the first Gulf War, I was reading Donald Barthelme's 60 Stories. I think I got through all of them at that time, but a few years ago I picked the book up again to make sure. Barthelme is by no means an easy read, but if you haven't had the chance you should really pick up one of his collections. Or go here and check out a few stories.
I've added an interesting site to the Enhancements section to the right. Thanks to Alas, a blog, I've been spending the first part of my day trying to decide whether or not I believe that shoplifting, out of necessity, is wrong. I've only shoplifted once in my life (a book from the college bookstore) but the urge has been there. Yes, I've been as poor as nearly possible without being on the streets, but I managed without stealing. Unless, of course, you consider defaulting on a couple of credit cards stealing. I guess that could open up another ethics debate, but I do know that I've paid for my "crime" with a horrible credit rating. It would be easy to say that the credit card companies--the vultures that they are--should have been more cautious, should have seen that a college student majoring in English with only a work-study job might not make a good credit risk. But I think that was part of the game.
These are propitious days to be a pot smoker. Not only is a Major League baseball pitcher named Bong getting high praise for his efforts, but it now appears that none other than William Shakespeare enjoyed marijuana. Archeologists have uncovered some clay pipes at Shakespeare’s home that they believe may have been used for smoking weed (though not necessarily by the Bard). One of these archeologists, J. Francis Thackery, “asked the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon to allow South African researchers with state-of-the-art equipment to analyze 24 pipe fragments. Marijuana degrades over time, but eight of the fragments showed signs suggestive of marijuana, he said. Two also showed evidence of cocaine.” Thackery also sees some links in the sonnets that suggest Shakespeare may have indulged in ganja. May we now assume that NORML is rushing out a complete Shakespeare that will be printed on hemp paper?
I’ve often considered doing a study on the almost zealous defense of pot smoking that seems to exist today—the cult of cannabis, if you will. I don’t have a problem with someone who enjoys the drug on a recreational level, but if you’ve ever been in an argument with someone who does, you know that nothing can be more entertaining. First you’ll hear of all the virtues, the medicinal uses, the lives that it enriches. Then you’ll get a detailed history lesson, learning along the way that hemp was used for every possible thing, from the first printings of the Bible to the rope on the parachute that saved Bush the Seniors life. You’ll get studies that disprove any of the possible negative effects of marijuana: It’s not a gateway drug, it’s non-addicting, etc. I’ve been to NORML rallies; I’ve heard the propaganda. In defense of the pro-pot advocates, I will say that the insane criminalization of cannabis has led to this seemingly urgent need to defend it. But how many cigarette smokers do you find who will give you such a defense?
